“It is a good thing that I no longer have a heart, because if I did, it would surely break.”
I didn't end up connecting with or loving Dark Triumph as much as I thought I would.
I think this might be because Dark Triumph is slow to start and slow to get going. I was reading it in short intervals, because life was so busy, and I wasn't getting a chance to become immersed in the story. I only started getting into the story in the last half and even then, I wasn't fully invested.
Dark Triumph is a YA Historical Fantasy and the story is character-driven and has a slow pace. I usually love character-driven novels because seeing the world through characters' eyes and witnessing their development is fascinating, but for some reason, I didn't care enough about the characters to fully appreciate them overcoming their struggles and trauma and developing and finding their inner strength and light.
Sybella is a dark character who has gone through extremely dark and tragic events. She's the type of character that I usually tend to like - badass, slightly unlikeable and morally grey - and though she's a tortured and broken soul who's ultimately trying to survive and do her best, I couldn't connect with her character.
I like the slow burn romance, but I didn't end up loving it. Beast is not the typical YA love interest and it's wonderful to see his relationship with Sybella develop because he's kind, brave, loyal and understanding. He sees Sybella for who she truly is and vice versa.
The lore related to the old gods and their convents are interesting and the sisterhood between Ismae, Sybella and Annith is heartwarming.
I don't know where things went wrong, because Dark Triumph is the type of story that I'm usually drawn to, with characters, themes and a plot that I tend to find intriguing. It's a well-written book and a solid sequel, but I wasn't fully invested.
“Hate cannot be fought with hate. Evil cannot be conquered by darkness. Only love has the power to conquer them both.”